With all the recent talk about a recession, a terrible housing market, a stock market that is in trouble, rising gas prices, etc.... I was just wondering how all of this effects lottery players? Would you wait until jackpots are bigger and spend the same, spend less but play as often, or would it have no effect on how much you spend or how often you play? I just imagine that the people who would really benefit from a lotto win are the ones that are most effected by the above factors and have less money to throw around. Thoughts?

I hate to admit this, but I began spending a little more. (you don't have this choice) I never spend very much anyway, and I'm fairly responsible, but I started to play Fantasy 5 more often. I probably should skip a few days and just bet my $8 a week on Lotto. If I had children to support it would be different, but I figure if I'm going to sink anyway, I might as well party on the ship while it's going down.

The poll forgot to say "play more"! If you're worried about money I think the easiest way to solve it would be with a big win! I might play less if I have less $ but I will be more hopeful about winning and I will use more focused algorithms and choose number more carefully. Anytime I won big was with only one or two numbers or sets in play. Less is more. If you're low on money then even a box win can make a big difference so no, bigger jackpots wouldn't make much difference with me.

- The gas price is not rising right now.. it has been near 3 a gallon since last Spring. - The housing market is only terrible if you got one of those insane mortgages or if you're in the house-flipping business. - The recession if it exists is caused by people being afraid.. just go about your business and if everyone did that there won't be any recession. All I know is when we go to the Mall there is usually no place to even park so how are we supposed to get in there to help the economy? - The Lottery is a way of redistributing wealth.. millions of not-so-rich people contribute a very small amount to fund the creation of one or a few very rich people. Hopefully those rich people will go to the Mall (if they can park there) and support the economy... it makes little difference if 1 million people buy a $2 loaf of bread vs. 1 rich person buys several Hummers.

Of course it dosen't. Just because the housing market crash, oil prices out of the roof, eminent revolt, atrocities around the world, one world government, Alien contact cover-up, Over population, and artificial sweeteners are present means nothing!

Actually, the worse the economy gets, the more people gamble (and drink and eat out)...as the money becomes worth less and less, (loss of buying power), people become much more loose with it.

When the economy is bad, people don't usually buy big price tag items so they can spend that money on gambling and eating out. A few years ago I worked in a charitable booth at the local county fair and a professional told when the economy was down, county and state fair attendance was way up.

It makes sense the people would cancel their cross-country trips to Wally-World and spend their money closer to home.